5 INCREDIBLE Neighborhoods Where to Stay in Minneapolis (With Prices)

I hope you’re ready for a journey to a colorful city in the USA’s midwest region, Minneapolis. Are you looking for historic museums, unique art galleries, theme parks, shopping centers, or nightlife? I have good news for you, Minneapolis has it all!

Located in Minnesota by the beautiful Mississippi River, this city and its “twin” St Paul form a metropolitan area where they share many of the same institutions such as schools and political buildings, so you get two great cities for the price of one!

Minneapolis not only offers scenic landscapes and lush green parks but also gives you a modern city vibe thanks to its high-rise buildings. In just a few minutes you can move from a historical site to a beautiful lake or an upscale restaurant in one of those cool skyscrapers I just mentioned. If you like this kind of vibrant city that is full of surprises, you will love Minneapolis!

In this blog post on where to stay in Minneapolis, Minnesota I will talk about the 5 best areas to stay in the city and give you the top hotels for all budgets. Before we start, I just want to remind you that in order to get better deals on hotels and secure your place, do not forget to make a reservation in advance. Many Minnesota hotels have a free cancelation policy, so don’t worry if you change your mind!

Shall we start our Minneapolis city tour?

If you are in a hurry

Here are the best hotels where to stay in Minneapolis, Minnesota from luxury to budget. They all have very good reviews and great locations!

Here is a map about where to stay in Minneapolis, Minnesota  with the 5 best areas I will be talking about in this travel guide so you can easily visualize them:

1. Minneapolis Downtown East – where to stay for the first time

Set by the beautiful Mississippi River, Downtown Minneapolis is the heart of the city. Even though it is a business district, don’t expect to see just boring office buildings. Here you will find many nice historical museums, cultural attractions, shops, breweries, and nice restaurants. If you want to be close to the action in the city, my answer for where to stay in Minneapolis is definitely Downtown East!

Start discovering downtown with a stroll along the Mississippi River. Here you will see Mill Ruins Park.

INTERESTING FACT: The ruins that you will see in The Mill Ruins Park belong to the Washburn A Mill which was the largest water-powered facility in the world until it exploded in 1878. This accident helped to improve mill safety standards in the USA.

In Downtown East you will see so many nice theaters, music events, and lively bars and restaurants. Make sure to check out events in the city before your visit to catch all the action. In any case, I am sure you will not have time to be bored in downtown Minneapolis with all the awesome shops, art galleries, and local flavors to taste!

Of course what you’re really here for, Downtown East has some of the best accommodation options in the city and I picked the top 4 for you. Since it is a popular area to stay in Minneapolis, make sure to make your reservation in advance to not miss your favorite place.

Other options in Minneapolis Downtown East

Things to do in Minneapolis Downtown East

• See the historic ruins of an old mill and the famous ‘Gold Medal Flour’ sign at the Mill Ruins Park
• Learn about the history at the Mill City Museum
• Catch a show at the Guthrie Theatre
• See the impressive sculptures at the Gold Medal Park
• Watch a football game at the famous US Bank Stadium
• Take a pint at Town Hall Brewery
• Go for a stroll across the Stone Arch Bridge and pay a visit to the University of Minnesota

2. Minneapolis Downtown West – best for nightlife

Downtown Minneapolis west is located a mile (2 km) west of Downtown East and is the best place to stay in Minneapolis for nightlife. You will find numerous nightclubs, theatres, events venues like the Target Center and the Minneapolis Convention Center, trendy bars, and upscale restaurants here so make sure to wear your dancing shoes!

Apart from the lively nightlife, downtown west offers nice cultural attractions, museums, and great shops too. Get lost in the streets connected by skyways and dotted with skyscrapers, discover local cafes, and find the impressive Bob Dylan mural on South 5th Street. Sounds like a colorful neighborhood right?

In Downtown Minneapolis West I found out the best of the best hotels for all budgets but these hotels are selling too fast so you have to be quick to secure your place and get better deals on hotels. If you are looking for travel inspiration for another colorful city, check out the best places to stay in Kansas City.

Let’s have a look at the best accommodation options in Downtown Minneapolis West.

Other options in Minneapolis Downtown West

Things to do in Minneapolis Downtown West

• Check out the Bob Dylan mural on the South 5th Street
• Visit the Minneapolis Central Library and Minneapolis City Hall
• Catch a concert at the Minnesota Orchestra Hall
• Take a pint at Cowboy Jack’s Downtown Minneapolis
• Marvel contemporary artworks at Walker Art Center and see the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
• See an amazing performance at Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis
• Listen to a DJ set and dance till the early hours of the morning at The Exchange & Alibi Lounge
• Catch an event at the Target Center or the Minneapolis Convention Center

3. The Warehouse District (North Loop) – the coolest neighborhood

The Warehouse District, also known as the North Loop, is situated by the Mississippi River and a mile north of Downtown East. If you are looking for a cool neighborhood with hipster cafes, trendy bars, designer boutiques, and street murals, my answer for where to stay in Minneapolis is definitely the Warehouse District!

If you are a person like me who likes to explore undiscovered parts of the city, local restaurants, and bohemian cafes you will have so much fun here as there are tons of places to be discovered from local restaurants to international cuisines (and plenty of spots your Instagram will love).

The Warehouse District is also a great neighborhood to hang out at night thanks to the numerous bars with live music and popular comedy clubs spread throughout the area.

By staying in the Warehouse District you will be both very close to main city attractions and will also have a chance to stay in a cool neighborhood making it the best of both worlds.

Here are the best places to stay in this trendy area:

Other options in The Warehouse District (North Loop), Minneapolis

Things to do in The Warehouse District (North Loop), Minneapolis

• Visit the James J. Fiorentino Foundation and Museum
• Have fun playing an escape game at Trapped Puzzle Rooms
• Listen to live music at the Fine Line Music Cafe
• Have a nice Italian meal at Red Rabbit Minneapolis
• Go for a stroll along the West River Parkway and check out the beautiful Mississippi River views
• See a show at the Acme Comedy Club
• Have a good coffee at Fairgrounds Craft Coffee and Tea

4. St Louis Park – where to stay in Minneapolis for families

St Louis Park is located 8 miles (12 km) west of downtown Minneapolis and is a very nice neighborhood with lush green parks and beautiful lakes. It is my pick for where to stay in Minneapolis for families thanks to its chilled, safe environment as well as the family-friendly attractions and hotels.

In St Louis Park you will find kids’ playgrounds in almost every beautiful park and you can do activities such as cycling or kayaking on the stunning lakes. Doesn’t it sound like a good place to spend time with your families?

By staying in St Louis Park you will be away from the crowd of the city center but still have easy access to the many nice restaurants and shops. The hotels I picked here have spacious rooms where even the largest families can have a comfortable stay in.

Other accommodation in St Louis Park, Minneapolis

Things to do in St Louis Park, Minneapolis

• Have a family meal at the Punch Bowl Social Minneapolis
• Go hiking and see scenic views at Westwood Hills
• Have fun at the water park,  Oak Hill Park Splash Pad
• Go for a swim at Cedar Lake
• Take a trip to the beautiful the Eloise Butler Wildlife Garden
• Go for a walk at the Brownie Lake

5. South Loop District – where to stay in Minneapolis for shopping

South Loop District is located 10 miles (15 km) south of downtown Minneapolis and just 2 miles (3 km) away from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

Thanks to its proximity to the airport I recommend staying in this area if you have an early flight in the morning but more importantly, this is where to stay in Minneapolis for shopping as you will find the enormous shopping center, Mall of America here!

FUN FACT: When Mall of America was opened in 1992 it was the largest shopping mall in the western hemisphere and the 7th largest shopping mall in the world. Its ground area is equivalent to 78 football fields!

Shopping lovers will go crazy at the Mall of America with tons of nice shops to go “window shopping”. A word of advice, set yourself a time limit so you don’t spend your entire life’s savings here!

Even if you don’t feel like shopping you can still enjoy so many fun attractions such as theme parks, aquariums, and many nice cafes and restaurants. So make sure to wear your most comfortable shoes and allow enough time to discover this huge shopping complex!

In the South Loop District, you will also be able to find many nice accommodation options due to the popularity of the famous shopping mall and the closeness to Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport. Also by using the light rail line metro you can easily access downtown Minneapolis so what’s not to love?

Other accommodation in South Loop District, Minneapolis

Things to do in South Loop District, Minneapolis

• Shop until you drop at Mall of America
• Have fun at the theme park Nickelodeon Universe
• Discover the underwater world at SEA LIFE at Mall of America
• Take a day trip to the beautiful Minnehaha Falls
• Have a meal at Hazelwood Food and Drink
• Go for a stroll to Wright’s Lake Park
• Have a nice dinner and drink at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar

Frequently asked questions about Minneapolis, Minnesota

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed reading this city tour as much as I did. In this blog post on where to stay in Minneapolis, I talked about the best hotels to stay from luxury to budget as well as Airbnbs in each area. I also gave you some information about the things you can do there so you could pick the perfect one for you!

As I’ve already mentioned, being close to all attractions, Minneapolis Downtown east and west are the best areas to be at the heart of the action, discover cultural sites and enjoy the nightlife. However, if you have fancied the vibe of another neighborhood I say go for it as you can easily travel between neighborhoods thanks to the light rail line metro. 

I would like to remind you again that in order not to miss your favorite Minneapolis accommodation and get better deals on hotels, do not forget to make a reservation in advance!

For those who are having difficulty picking among the many hotel options, let me sum up. Here are the best 2 hotels in Minneapolis, Minnesota that have convenient locations as well as good reviews. I definitely recommend you to stay in one of these if you can’t decide between the awesome options in this list!

If you have any other suggestions or questions about Minneapolis, Minnesota, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below. I’ll be glad to leave a reply to them!

Enjoy your time in Minneapolis,

Eylul